Chapter 159: You Are the New Butterfly

[Chapter 159: You Are the New Butterfly]

On Runbank Street, the Michill Apartments.

A man and a woman were enjoying themselves in their apartment.

They hadn't noticed that a camera was trained on them from the opposite building.

Ian sat behind the camera, diligently watching the footage of Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder, letting out a soft sigh.

In the room sat Brydon, who was bored, cleaning his gun and looking at his boss, "Aren't you satisfied?"

Ian grunted, "Nothing special. Apart from the affair and the big stars, it's pretty dull."

Perhaps having known Ian for a while, Brydon felt more comfortable commenting, "For the majority of people, this is a big scoop. You're just different with your high standards."

Ian despised repetitive news.

The nature could be the same, but the presentation needed to be clever.

With no good plot this time, Ian felt a sense of frustration that he had wasted two good stories in one night.

So he simply replied with a puff from his cigar, "That's the foundation of everything we achieve."

He turned to Brydon, "Usually, I bring girls along for this. This is the first time I've brought you."

Brydon muttered, "I'm not offering my services though."

Ian laughed, "That's exactly why I brought you."

Brydon was confused, "Why didn't you bring Olivia? You could do your job and socialize, isn't that how you like to roll?"

Ian shook his head, "I only bring the girls who are worth keeping around for the long run to do news with me and go to my place... Olivia doesn't fit that category."

Being too forward might get one closer to Ian, but it also doomed that person to be unvalued by him.

For Ian, the women he pursued were the ones worth having.

Thus, to him, Olivia was just passing through; he could use her, give her opportunities, but taking it further was out of the question -- his intended use of her was basically to swing by the office someday, pull her over, have a quick fling, and then just leave, casually saying, "Give her a bit more opportunity."

And that was that.

...

At that moment watching a steamy film featuring the current top actress, Ian suddenly noticed something and looked over in surprise.

Brydon caught his movement and asked, "What's up?"

Ian didn't respond, just leaned out the window to take a look, then pulled back, saying, "Someone next door is also watching."

'Your reaction was before you leaned out!'

Brydon smartly didn't point that out, smiling, "Got a rival?"

Ian glanced at the camera, keeping it rolling, then stood up and exited the room.

Brydon followed automatically.

...

In the adjacent room, Ian took out a wire and started picking the lock.

Brydon was speechless watching Ian.

As the chairman of a media group, Mr. Carr, don't you know too much?

With a soft click, the door opened.

Ian walked in and saw a young man in a baseball cap taking pictures out the window.

Taken by surprise at the noise, the young man turned and gasped, "Mr. Carr?"

Ian smiled and walked over, "I didn't expect to meet a fellow journalist from next door. You owe me one -- if I hadn't opened the curtains, you wouldn't have gotten such exciting content."

Saying this, he reached for the guy's camera.

My exclusive story, no one is taking it.

To his surprise, the young man didn't even try to snatch it back.

Instead, he excitedly exclaimed, "It's definitely you! I knew there was a reason! You want Julia Roberts for your scoop? No problem, take it!"

Ian was taken aback.

Such heavyweight news was every reporter's lifeline.

Even if the guns were pointed, they would come in for a chance.

Yet, this guy just threw it in?

He stared at the young man, "Are you sure?"

The young man nodded enthusiastically, "Absolutely!"

"What?" Ian was stunned.

He looked at the young man again, oddly recognizing him, "I feel like I've seen you before."

The young man responded, his sarcasm evident, "Of course you have, Mr. Carr. I'm Vincent, a beneficiary of your charitable foundation. I even interviewed for the new Butterfly position, but you didn't take me. You thought I was still too timid!"

Ian: "..."

It came back to him.

...

This kid named Vincent had indeed interviewed for the new Butterfly position.

But Ian hadn't hired him; in their interaction, he saw that the kid still had a deep attachment to this world, lacking the fiery spirit of a true go-getter.

That's why Ian had passed on him.

...

Ian looked puzzled at him, "So that's how it was. Wait, you meant this news was meant for me?"

Vincent nodded excitedly, "Yes, sir. I believe I'm perfect for the Butterfly role! Yes, I admit, I'm still afraid of dying. I don't want to end my life because I'll die in two years. But I still want to be the Butterfly! I can't accept rushing to my death now, but if I have a year and a half left, maybe I can come to terms with it! I know I'm not as great as Mr. Philip Leyso, but I still have my talents. Look!"

Vincent pointed outside, "I tracked down this story myself. Even without you pulling back the curtain, I at least captured Julia Roberts walking into that guy Moder's apartment and staying the night! For most reporters, this is enough, right?"

Ian stared at him.

After a while, he smiled.

He was right; for most reporters, capturing Julia Roberts entering a guy's room and coming out the next day was sufficient... Only Ian Carr could catch more specific content.

So Ian lowered his head, watching the lens and the performance opposite.

Julia Roberts and Moder's excitement was reaching its peak; from the camera's angle, Vincent's technical skills weren't bad, exceeding Philip Leyso's on a technical level.

Everyone has their strengths.

...

At that moment, Vincent suddenly grabbed a nearby ashtray.

He opened the window and threw it across the way.

Crash!

The ashtray shattered the glass, and Moder's apartment was filled with a crash, followed by Julia Roberts' scream.

Both jumped from the bed, angrily glaring over here, with Julia Roberts screaming, "Pull the curtains!"

Then Daniel Moder yelled while pulling up his pants, "Damn reporters!"

Ian turned to Vincent, astonished, "What are you doing?"

Vincent shrugged, "Creating news, just like you taught me. I figured you had a camera over there, so I provoked him into some fight, ruining the record here. Then your newspaper would issue a statement about it. Julia Roberts would think we had no evidence, she'd definitely deny it, and then you'd toss out the evidence... Isn't that how news is made?"

Ian's eyes lit up.

Damn!

This kid has skills!

You learned the twists of news?

He grinned at Brydon, "He's clever, isn't he, Brydon?"

Brydon laughed back, "Indeed. The Butterfly needs courage, but not just courage."

Vincent chuckled, looking at Ian, "You should probably get out of here; they'll be here soon. I'll rile that guy up, try to get him to beat me up. In news, the bigger the event, the better!"

Ian nodded.

He patted Vincent on the shoulder, "Good job, come to the office tomorrow; from now on, you're the new Butterfly."

With that, he and Brydon turned to leave.

"Yay!" Vincent cheered, pumping his fists in excitement.

He shouted, "Don't worry, boss, I'll take care of it!"

*****

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